A family reunion, a food feasts and a party all rolled into one; that is Thanksgiving in the South. Gathered around a heavily laden table are all the Grandparents, uncles, aunts and children basking in all the wonderful aromas and vision of the star attraction, the most delectable food to be had.

It is the time when even the “once a year” dishes make an appearance. Well, actually, twice a year, since this is about the same menu served Christmas. Turkey, ambrosia, candied yams, cranberry sauce; all the traditional favorites are featured. And best of all, it is mostly home cooked by the best Southern cooks, usually headed up by mom. Although a few short cuts are taken in the interest of time, such as store bought dinner rolls, there is very little that comes from a can or freezer. Southern cooks pride themselves on their “made from scratch” meals.

So, what is on the menu? Here is a typical Southern Thanksgiving spread. Understand that all families have their specialties that may not be listed here, but this is what I grew up enjoying every year.

Meat:
- Turkey (oven roasted - simple and tasty, nothing exotic)
- Ham (real ham, not a canned imitation, for those that do not favor turkey)

Vegetables:
- Candied yams (boil sweet potatoes or yams in water and sugar until tender and syrupy)
- Mashed potatoes (again simple, nothing fancy)
- Green beans (cooked Southern style until very tender and dull green color)
- Corn (kernels)
- Collard or Turnip Greens (Southern style - boil with onion, spoon of bacon grease, spoon of vinegar and dash of hot sauce until very tender)
- Black eyed peas (cooked about the same as collards)
- Cranberries - Never canned. This is not cranberry sauce, it is whole cranberries and much better. Put 1 cup water and 1 cup sugar in a sauce pan and bring to a boil, stir to melt sugar. Add 1 package fresh, whole cranberries, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1 tablespoon cinnamon. Bring back to a boil and simmer 10-15 minutes until syrupy. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Side Dishes:
- Fresh veggie plate - assortment of carrots, olives, baby green onions, radish, pickles
- Cornbread dressing (stuffing)
- Ambrosia (home made - never from store)
- Fresh Tossed Salad - simple, just lettuce, cherry tomatoes, chopped green onions

Desserts:
- Home made Pecan Pie
- Home made sweet potato pie
- Mississippi Mud Pie

Bread:
- Southern Cornbread
- Dinner rolls (usually store bought but occasionally someone attempts home made)

Beverages:
- Southern Iced Tea (sweetened, of course)
- Coffee
- Syllabub (an old Southern adult drink)

An assortment of special dishes, mostly desserts, may or may not show up each year, but this is the old standby menu you could count on every Thanksgiving and Christmas. You may want to serve some or all of this menu, but make it from scratch as much as possible and serve it with the best side dish of all…lot’s of love.

Ken Miller is a free lance writer and webmaster for Southern Recipes, a free recipe website. Recipes for dishes in this article may be found at Southern Thanksgiving Recipes. They are all free.

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Romantic Recipes They Love

Neglecting breakfast has become the norm for most people. Most of us become extremely busy as we prepare for our day. As a crutch, we often dash to fast food restaurants in an effort to save time, making choices that favor convenience over health. Skipping breakfast can lead to overeating during snacking, lunch, and dinner - potentially increasing one’s risks of becoming overweight or developing maladies such as diabetes.

Breakfast is our first meal after a long night’s rest, so you should take the time to choose your energy sources wisely. By eating a healthy breakfast, not only will you boost your energy level, but you will also provide yourself with the fuel necessary to jump-start your day. A good breakfast means better concentration without feeling lethargic or worn-out.

Instead of becoming the victim of the negative health effects that come from skipping breakfast, take charge by incorporating spirulina-based superfood smoothie recipes into your day. Spirulina has more protein per gram than any other food, and it is the richest form of beta-carotene available to us. Superfood smoothies are easy to make and can be conveniently stored for later consumption during work, school or play.

Here are two easy superfood smoothie recipes made with spirulina-based superfood powder and anti-oxidant- rich fruit. Either of these will leave you satisfied for an extended period of time in order to maintain energy, retain nourishment and perform any given task with efficiency.

Berry Chocolate Smoothie

Blend:

- 1.5 cups pure water
- 1 frozen banana
- 1 cup frozen berries
- 1 round tablespoon spirulina-based superfood powder
- 1 round tablespoon raw chocolate bits
- 1 tablespoon cold-pressed coconut oil

Delicious: a total energizer!

Pear Superfood Smoothie

Blend:

- 1 cup water from fresh Thai coconut. Also simple pure water is fine if coconuts are not available…although a touch of agave or honey will help sweetening
- 1 fresh pear sliced into quarters and core removed (for added creaminess, freeze pear beforehand, or add ice)
- 2 tablespoons spirulina-based superfood powder
-2 tablespoons hemp seeds or meat from coconut for added protein

Purify, energize, shine with this total refresher!!!

Neglecting breakfast is not wise. For most of us, a busy day is the norm. As a crutch to get us through our busy schedules, many of us rely upon fast food restaurants in an effort to save time, making choices that favor convenience over health. Skipping breakfast can lead to overeating throughout the rest of the day.

Many of the foods we consume these days are processed, chemically altered, and extremely unnatural. People do not realize that eating these types of foods actually do a disservice to our bodies. Substituting a donut or greasy French fries with a refreshingly healthy, homemade superfood smoothie will make you feel good on the inside and look good on the outside.

You are bound to feel refreshed, energized and revitalized throughout the day with these superfood smoothie recipes, whether you have them for breakfast or for a healthy midday snack.

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Article Source: ArticleSpan

See pictures of recipes, along with user comments and more details at

Healthy Smoothie Recipes They Love